ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 15 UCF men’s soccer team is set to square off against the Eastern Florida Titans in the team’s first exhibition match of the 2019 preseason on Monday at 6 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The reigning American Athletic Conference champions take the pitch with some familiar faces and some fresh ones as well. Seniors Cal Jennings, Richard Amon and Jonathan Dean return as the leaders of the Black and Gold and will look to guide the Knights back into the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year for the first time since the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Joining them on their quest are fourteen other returners and ten newcomers.
The Knights are already receiving national attention before stepping onto the pitch in 2019. UCF was ranked No. 15 by the United Soccer Coaches Poll prior to the start of the season. Individually, Jennings and Louis Perez were named to the Hermann Trophy preseason watch list. At the conclusion of last season, Jennings was named as a semifinalist for the Hermann trophy after posting the nation’s second highest goal total with 20 goals scored.
UCF ended last season with a record of 13-3-3 and an incredible 5-1-1 mark in the conference to take the regular season crown. They won an incredible double overtime battle over UConn in the semifinals of The American tournament before falling in a 1-1 draw in the conference championship match that SMU won in penalty kicks by a score of 5-4. The Knights appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 but fell short in the second round against Lipscomb to end a remarkable season.
Monday’s exhibition match will be the first of two preseason tussles for the Knights. The Black and Gold will face FIU on Saturday, Aug 24 at 6 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex. After that, the Knights will hit the road and travel to No. 4 Wake Forest to open their 2019 regular season. Admission to both exhibition matches are free.
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